Coast Guard Test Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does an oily water separator do aboard a vessel?
- Heats fuel for combustion
- Separates oil from bilge water before discharge (Correct answer)
- Filters drinking water
- Cools engine coolant
Correct answer: Separates oil from bilge water before discharge
An oily water separator removes oil from bilge water so the water can be discharged within legal limits.
Question 2: The maximum permissible oil content for bilge water discharged from a vessel is generally:
- 15 parts per million (Correct answer)
- 150 parts per million
- 1,500 parts per million
- There is no limit
Correct answer: 15 parts per million
MARPOL sets the maximum allowable oil content in discharged bilge water at 15 parts per million.
Question 3: What is a boom used for in oil spill response?
- To pump oil into tanks
- To contain and control the spread of oil (Correct answer)
- To burn oil on the surface
- To dissolve oil with chemicals
Correct answer: To contain and control the spread of oil
A containment boom is a floating barrier used to contain and control the spread of spilled oil.
Question 4: Which document outlines a vessel's procedures for responding to an oil pollution emergency?
- The Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) (Correct answer)
- The Official Logbook
- The Certificate of Documentation
- The Load Line Certificate
Correct answer: The Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)
The SOPEP details the procedures and contacts a crew must follow during an oil pollution emergency.
Question 5: The use of chemical dispersants on an oil spill generally requires:
- No approval at all
- Pre-authorization or approval from the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (Correct answer)
- Approval from the vessel owner only
- A court order
Correct answer: Pre-authorization or approval from the Federal On-Scene Coordinator
Chemical dispersants may only be used with authorization from the Federal On-Scene Coordinator under the National Contingency Plan.
Question 6: What environmental risk is associated with discharging untreated sewage near shore?
- It raises water temperature
- It introduces harmful bacteria and depletes oxygen (Correct answer)
- It increases water salinity
- It has no measurable effect
Correct answer: It introduces harmful bacteria and depletes oxygen
Untreated sewage introduces pathogens and nutrients that deplete oxygen and harm marine life and public health.
Question 7: A Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is required aboard vessels to treat or hold:
- Oily bilge water
- Sewage (Correct answer)
- Garbage
- Ballast water
Correct answer: Sewage
A Marine Sanitation Device is installed to treat or retain sewage to prevent discharge of raw waste.
Coast Guard Test Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection 3
What does an oily water separator do aboard a vessel?